Substitute Senate Bill No. 1497, also known as Public Act No. 25-152, introduces significant amendments to Connecticut's agricultural laws, focusing on enhancing support for farmers and streamlining regulations. The bill establishes a State Veterinarian within the Department of Agriculture and modifies the registration process for fertilizers and soil amendments, capping registration fees at seventy-five dollars and allowing distributors to rely on existing registrations. It also introduces a new tax credit for eligible farmers, defined as those whose federal gross income from farming constitutes at least two-thirds of their excess federal gross income, providing a twenty percent credit on specific tax liabilities. Additionally, the bill increases the property tax exemption for farm machinery from one hundred to two hundred fifty thousand dollars and updates certification requirements for pesticide applicators.

The bill further addresses shellfish harvesting regulations by changing licensing expiration dates and enhancing confidentiality for harvest location information. It prohibits the use of devices other than hand power for dredging shellfish on licensed boats and establishes the Manure Management Grant Program to assist farmers with manure management systems. Notably, it prohibits the sale of fertilizers containing biosolids or wastewater sludge with PFAS, with enforcement shared between the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Commissioner of Agriculture. Overall, the bill aims to bolster agricultural practices, support farmers financially, and ensure compliance with environmental standards.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 22-111c, 22-111bb
ENV Joint Favorable Substitute: 22-111c, 22-111bb
File No. 671: 22-111c, 22-111bb
APP Joint Favorable: 22-111c, 22-111bb
FIN Joint Favorable: 22-111c, 22-111bb
JUD Joint Favorable: 22-111c, 22-111bb
Public Act No. 25-152: 22-111c, 22-111bb, 12-91, 26-192k, 26-212, 26-213, 26-232, 26-207, 26-209, 26-215, 26-192l